Brooklyn Fit Chick

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The best.
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Cool Bklyn Chick Who Cycles in a Pink Cruiser and Fishnets

Hey Everybody! Meet Sheryl Yvette of Greenpoint!

 

I noticed Sheryl last year during the NYC Century Bike Tour as she was the one person who rode the entire 55-mile route in a black, lacy outfit, fishnets, full makeup and a cuter-than-hell pink cruiser. The guys in my group quickly became obsessed with her throughout the ride but none had the guts to say "hey" and approach her.

So here we are all these months later and Sheryl is featured in Reclaim which is the official magazine for Transportation Alternatives--yeah!

Here is her picture:

You can read her interview here: Reclaim 

 

And here is the link to her excellent Blog Bitch Cakes

 

Love this woman! Sheryl, get in touch with me! We will go for a ride and get some sangria in Red Hook!

 

Have a great weekend one and all,

BFC  

My Review of @goodhealth Health Magazine June 2010

What Did We Learn This Month: Health, June 2010

Health magazine: June 2010

 

Health Cover Model for June: 

Jaime Pressly who was hilarious in My Name is Earl and is now, um---well I am not quite sure what she is doing at the moment, but she sure looks great! Jamie gained 42 pounds when she was pregnant with her son Dezi (now 3) so she knows a thing or two about getting into shape.

Here she is in a lemon-yellow outfit that only a thin, gorgeous blonde can pull off:

 

How She Keeps in Top Health:

Jamie sounds like a jock at heart who lately has been trying a workout device called TRX the "suspension training system." Never heard of it but from what I gather from the interview it is this thingy you attach to your doorway and it provides extra resistance for when you do lunges and squats. But I am not sure.  Sounds kind of cool if so.

Her husband is a vegetarian while she is not so her compromise is to eat "a lot less red meat" which sounds fair to me.

To lose weight from her pregnancy she went on a "Cabbage Soup Diet" wherein she had cabbage soup three-four times per day for six days. Twice. She also ate up to eight bananas per day depending on how hungry she was. This was all while she was breastfeeding her son so she would not look "chunky" on her 30th birthday.

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. Please get in touch with me. I want to reach out and give you a hug. It's okay to be "chunky" right after you have a baby. (Heavy sigh.)

I need to switch gears. She gives me the sads.

 

Also in the June Health:

 

How To Kick the Habit Without Gaining a Pound: 

 
  
Not to brag but on June 27, 2002 I kicked my up-to-two pack a day smoking habit cold turkey and never looked back. (Yeah!) I did this along with my brother who has since picked up the habit again (Boo!)

For years one of my dumber and more shallow reasons for not giving up the gross habit was that I worried I would gain weight. Vanity thy name is (was) Brooklyn Fit Chick.  

But here is the deal, cancer and heart disease both completely suck and smoking is a fast-track for both. In fact women who smoke have a higher rate of heart disease than their male counterparts.  

When I gave up the cigs my plan was to keep lollipops on me at all times to fend off the nic fits and withdrawals that seemed to consume me the whole summer. Let me apologize AGAIN to all who knew me at the time and experienced a cranky, bitchy cow for months.  (Feeling red-faced now.)

Baby carrots would have been a better choice to trick my oral fixation (as the editors of Health suggest) but if you are a smoker or you know someone who wants to quit--use whatever you need to get through the first few days, weeks and months. You will be so happy you did--trust me!

Anyhoo, check out the article by Leslie Barrie and just stop smoking dammit!

Try here as well for further help in your area: Smokefree.gov

 

The Numbers We Live By:

Good Information! A clever gathering of numbers and how they translate into good health. For example: 6--the number of hours of sleep that is considered too little (uh oh,) 3--the number of sushi rolls you can safely eat each week, and my favorite...

Wee! If that is what Health says, thy will be done. ;)  

 

Best Summer Salads:

This page makes me go nom, nom nom:

 

 

Workout Moves on the Beach:

I don't know about you but on a hot summer day when I am lucky enough to get to the beach; you will find me either swimming, napping, gossiping with friends under a beach umbrella or maybe playing Volleyball. Sit-ups and push-ups are not a part of my sun and sand experience. But I do like this one move they demonstrate in the June issue that I will adapt to my core class. Here it is!

 
 
The rest of the section is pretty cool as well and offers some interesting moves. Good on you Health fitness editors!

"America's Healthiest 2010 Buys":

The editors of Health give a shout-out to the best in beauty, food & drink and home buys. Among the winners is an Origins GinZing Eye Cream I want to try, an anti-aging serum from Elizabeth Arden that costs $155 (yikes, it better work!), and my favorite--Kettle Brand Baked Sea Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips that are the best relief from PMS ever. (No shit. Trust me.)

 

Front-of-the-Book Goodies: 

At the beginning of Health you will find the "HealthNow" section that offer tips, tidbits, advice and news bites about health, fitness, and nutrition. My personal fave was a study from the Archives of Internal Medicine which states that women who drank about one alcoholic beverage a day gained less weight over a 13-year period and were 30% less likely to become overweight and obese than nondrinkers. "Cheers!"

Also in "HealthNow;" when asked about the safety of 2-day juice fasts, Health advises that if you are in your 20s or 30s and in excellent health it should be okay but those in their 40s should really avoid them altogether.

But if you think a juice fast is going to help you lose weight (which is why people really do it and not for the supposed "detoxing" it will bring)--forget it because your metabolism shuts down.

If you want to lose weight; cut calories and get more exercise. Sound familiar? (Thank you for the responsible reporting Health editors!)

The rest of the best of this issue of Health:

"Sun-Proof Your Skin from A to Z"

Experts who offer their favorite "#1 Flat-Belly Tricks"

"What The Yuck?" Cute section based on the new book by the same name that answers your most embarrassing health questions.

"Feel Great Weight": Three Health readers are featured who are now at their "goal weight" and seek advice on how to maintain their new figure and keep motivated. Nice!

 

And now the rest of the rest of Health:

The stories about "Boosting Energy" and "Feeling Great Every Day"--dunno but they just don't intrigue me anymore. I could be the only one though. And the last page with Padma Lakshmi shows her to have a healthy self-image that would be inspiring to your readers. You need to get her on the cover stat!

 

Overall Grade: 

B-  Some very useful articles and I liked the sourcing on the research and data mentioned. But the overall look of the magazine lacks energy and zip. More fun, enticing artwork please!

Until next month  Health!

ox ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

(BFC)

 
 

Debbie Allen: Actress, Dancer, Lousy Aerobics Instructor

Best/Worst Fitness Scenes in TV and Film: The Cosby Show (1988)

Today I bring you a clip from an episode of The Cosby Show wherein Claire Huxtable (Phylicia Rashad) is eager to drop a few pounds to fit into a party dress for a special occasion and she only has a week to make it happen.

Now instead of just letting the dress out a bit or trying a sensible diet she goes the extreme route and hires an aerobics instructor to help her get in shape. (Cue the funny diet and exercise sequences where we show Claire getting hungry and tired over and over and over again!)

(Spoiler alert, she loses the weight and in the end can fit into the dress.)

I still remember watching this back in the 80s and thinking for a person teaching a seemingly beginner level class she is going way too fast for the students.  And how! (Though I am sure for comic effect.)

Debbie Allen is in real life Phylicia Rashad's sister and was known primarily as a dancer before getting into acting and directing. She has a fabulous dancer's physique and a strong presence which would get the attention of any class.  But judging by the clip below she would have made a terrible fitness instructor.

Too fast, too abrasive, silly body movements, not checking form--bad, bad, bad. And yet, very entertaining. See for yourself.

Be sure to pay attention to the tacky leotards on display (do I spot a thong and canary yellow tights in the last row?!) We have come a LONG way baby!

Please to enjoy.

BFC

 

 

Dance Break with the Blues Bros..Let me see you shake a tail feather...

Because it is Wednesday and we all could use a dance break.

Twist it, shake it shake it shake it shake it baby!

(You're welcome)

 

 

What Did We Learn This Month @MensHealthMag June 2010

 

What Did We Learn This Month: Men's Health, June 2010

Men's Health magazine: June 2010

 

Figuring that I reviewed Women's Health last week, it seemed to only be fair to check out the XX Chromosome version from Rodale. So let's get to it!

 

Men's Health Cover Model: 

Josh Holloway who is (was) one of the sexy stars of Lost (RIP) graces the cover and repays the favor by being candid enough to offer in the very first paragraph that he is a "taster" of life which includes the "cream on my daughter that came out of the womb." You know, I am not the most squeamish person you will meet but that sentence sent me packing. I am out y'all! You find out for yourself what else he has to say.

Here is a nice picture of the adorable Josh:

 
 
  

Also in the June Men's Health:

Under the Ominously Titled "Sex Bulletin": 

Turns out dudes are just as eager to find a life mate as women because Men's Health offers this chart for some of the top major cities in the U.S. along with the ratio of men to women. Here it is!

 
  

Turns out right here in NYC the ratio is exactly 1:1, men to women. Who knew? As a female I might want to check out Phoenix as there are supposedly 127 single men for every 100 women. Those sound like pretty sweet odds but if it mainly is made up of beer-guzzling former frat boys I am calling bullshit.

Oh, and apparently Boston has the lowest rate of sex satisfaction (no wonder they are so angry) and Atlanta has the highest rate where they get to gettin' an average of 88 times per year.

Go Georgia! I might have to visit you soon as well. :)

 

How To Do Everything Better:

Is this in every issue? It's pretty cool if it is because I found it to indeed be useful. The Men's Health editors offer advice for making the perfect burger (it's summer-grilling time!), how to score summer music festival tickets, clean second-story windows (?) and the old standby  how to "teach your dog to fetch a beer." You know I would never see that in a women's magazine but I won't judge as I am on your turf today.

 

Men Have Hormones Too:

A very thoughtful and interesting article on how hormones work and what to do if yours is thrown off balance.

 

The Truth About Antioxidants:

YES! The use-to-be considered wonder supplement is now under more scrutiny as it seems the cancer-fighting claims seem to be just a wee bit off the mark. Men's Health examines the most common myths about antioxidants and how they can be used properly to offer the most substantial health benefits. Love this.

 

What To Say to a Naked Woman:

Should be cheesy but in actuality a very sweet guide for guys looking for a better (and more appreciated) way to greet their gal in the buff. Pretty much spot-on the whole way. Love the line "Wow, always works..." Indeed.

 

Is Your Doctor Addicted?

A frightening examination of strung out doctor's and nurses and the reason there isn't more effort being put into catching them. Kind of takes away my Nurse Jackie fun but okay.

 

Front-of-the-Book Goodies: 

Men's Health calls them "Bulletins" and they cover sex, health, nutrition, exercise and weight loss. What can I say? I want to snark a little but it's all good. Seriously great information on vitamins (and where to store them), "Scan Scams," fitness foods, how the kettle-ball can up your abs routine and more. Keep it up Men's Health!

 

The rest of the best of this issue of Men's Health:

• Former NFL QB Rodney Peete talks about the joys and setbacks of raising a son with autism.
• A guide for the upcoming World Cup taking place in South Africa this year.
• Drink This/Not That: a guide to what to sip, drink, and/or guzzle from morning to night.

 

And now a story that totally confused me:

 
  

WTF?  This is supposed to be a diagram to help people overwhelmed with extra work to get through the day. Or something like that. I am still not sure and this after staring at it for a good 20 minutes.

For a second I thought the editor's were goofing around and it really was a map from Lost. Could not make heads or tails of this thing and it only added to my agita. Moving on.

 

The Sex Stuff:

There's plenty of how-to talk-to naked chicks, fondle them properly and tips on what women truly desire from their men. It's under the guise of Men's Health offering readers a way to spice up their relationship rather than to just get laid which is kind of endearing. Though I thought this diagram was a bit silly:

 

Overall Grade: 

A solid A.  For some reason I expected an unnecessarily racy or "meathead" type of read but instead I found this a fun and enjoyable magazine. Loaded with "tons of useful stuff" as the cover suggests.

The information is solid and the artwork very enticing. Some of the food pages made me hungry they looked so good!

I may be reading every month from now on Men's Health!

ox ox,

Brooklyn Fit Chick

(BFC)

 
 

How the Movie Rudy (1993) Inspired Me to Give up SF for NYC

Best/Worst "Fitness" Scene: Rudy (1993)

 

Okay I am stretching the "fitness" part here but I am presenting  one of my all-time favorite sports pictures and this particular scene illustrates why Rudy is considered a classic by so many people. (Clip below)

 

From IMDB.com:

Rudy Ruettiger (Sean Aston) grows up in a Catholic, working class family that loves Notre Dame football. He does not have the grades, the size or the talent to get into his beloved school so he follows his brothers and father into work at the steel plant. After his twenty-second birthday his best friend Pete (Christoper Reed) who always believed in him dies in an accident. Rudy then realizes that it is now or never to follow his life-long dream to play for the Fighting Irish.

Showing up is not enough to get him into the university, so with the encouragement of a priest (Robert Prosky), he enrolls in Holy Cross Junior College. There he gets help from a tutor (Jon Favreau) who helps him deal with his reading disability and finally get good grades. He works on the maintenance crew (Charles S. Dutton).

 

Finally, Rudy gets accepted and upon transferring in to the school, he gets a chance as a "tackling dummy" for the team for two years. Encouraged by his persistence and spunk, Rudy inspires the team and is allowed to dress for one game by the coach (Jason Miller), where he is triumphantly carried off the field by his fellow teammates. The story is based on the life of Daniel "Rudy" Ruettiger.

 

 

Rudy reminds me to keep moving forward when a challenge comes my way no matter how scary it seems. Over the years this film has served as an inspiration for me to branch out and raise my own expectations. To tell myself to get up and try again when I fall.

 

At the time I first viewed Rudy on cable TV, my life was pretty sucky. A year out of college, underemployed, lonely and feeling very stuck with my life in Northern California-- I just could not see my way out my rut.

 

Then one day while riding home from my retail job on the BART I could not stop thinking about Rudy. I thought about the kind of guts it takes for a kid to leave his comfortable life and do something that for all intents and purposes is grandiose and out of his league. Then a thought came to me: "Move to New York. Find a life there. If not now, when?"

 

Three months later I had sold my car, moved in with an INSANE cat-lady relative on Long Island and began looking for a job, apartment and really--my more authentic self.

 

That was 15 years ago and I cannot begin to imagine where I would be now if I had not given myself a kick in the pants. My life here in the Slope if filled with friends, good times, and a level of excitement that the East Bay will never be able to match. (Though I do miss that weather!)

 

Anyhoo, check out this scene for yourself. Let me know what you think. Sean Astin is most famous for his role in the Lord of the Rings pictures but to me he will always be "Rudy! Rudy! Rudy! Rudy!"

 

BFC

 

Best/Worst Fitness Scene: Rocky IV

This week I thought I would offer some of my picks for the best and worst workout/fitness scenes in movies and TV according to little ol' me.

Today we have Sylvester Stallone and Dolph Lundgren of Rocky IV getting ready for their big fight.

Back story...Dolph's character Ivan Drago killed Apollo Creed in a USA vs. Soviet Union match. Rocky Balboa threatened revenge and comes out of retirement to fight the Ivan and firmly establish America's dominance in boxing once again. Deep stuff.

It's a very silly film that is insanely enjoyable.  Please to enjoy the BIG training sequence. Be sure to check out the high tech equipment the Russians use for Ivan's training. Wonderfully cheesy, 80s fun. Love!

 

 

What Did We Learn This Week: Newsweek

Newsweek: May 24 & 31, 2010

 

Cover Story: "Desperately Seeking Cures"  

Check out the full article here as it is an excellent read and brings up interesting questions about who should fund research and why it seems to take so long to get new drugs approved.

Newsweek  

 

Plus, Joan Rivers

I don't care what anyone says, abrasive or no-- this woman makes me laugh.

Even when it's unintentional such as with this gem: "You are a POKER play-uh!" 

Article available here: "Can We Talk?" Newsweek

Check out this photo of Joan from 1974:

And Joan now:

 

Not commenting on it. Nope.

We also have a food piece called "Whole Hog" that claims that the cows and lambs are so last year and that the really cool meat-eating kids are chowing down on pigs. Pork bellies, bacon and more. "Whole Hog" Newsweek

But my favorite story is on Newsweek's last page that illustrates the latest data on the top situations that people fear most and the actual numbers when they occur.

For example:

Shark attacks-- there were only 28 in 2009 whereas there were 4.5 million dog bites reported!  Puts things into perspective no?

What Should You Really Be Afraid Of?:

 

 

Overall score: B-

Some good stoires but I am finding the front-of-the-book  filled with too many damn personal essays. I barely even glance at them at this point. (Feh on George Will and his "windmills kill more birds than anything" crap by the way.)Maybe next week?

Until then...

ox ox,

BFC

What Did We Learn This Week: People magazine

People: May 31, 2010

 

The "Holy Shit She Looks Amazing!" Cover:

Jennifer Hudson  

After receiving an Oscar for her role in Dreamgirls (for which she gained 20 pounds) Jennifer is now set to play the one and only Winnie Mandela in a new biopic set to come out this year. But first the director asked her to lose weight. Three times. After having a baby boy last August (husband is WWE Wrestler David Otunga) Hudson felt ready to try a new health and fitness program to not only get the part of her dreams but feel her best as well.

So with the help of Weight Watchers (she is a paid spokesperson) and celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak (who sells a "5-Factor Diet") she is now down to a size-6 and says she is very happy with her new body.

See for yourself!

 

 

Jason Alexander Lost Weight Too!

Alexander (he will always be George Costanza to me!) is a paid spokesperson for the Jenny Craig diet system and lost over 30 pounds on the program. He feels so good about himself that he proudly wears spandex in his commercials!

Here he is:

 

Bethenny Frankel's Baby Bryn!

The Real Housewives of New York (and soon-to-be Bethenny Gets Married) star show's off her teeny, tiny bundle of joy--Bryn Casey Hoppy. Ch-ch-check her out!

 

 

The Rest of This Week's People in a Nutshell:

• Jesse James wants Sandra Bullock back (He told this to People again. After the cry-baby interview he gave to Nightline. Oy, I am over this douche.)

• Danielle Staub of Bravo TV's Real Housewives of New Jersey has written her life story and promises to clear up all of those pesky "I am not a drug addict nor was I ever a prostitute" rumors and set the record straight. Good luck with that Danielle! (Eyes rolling)

• The 2010 Cannes Film Festival filled with behind the scenes stuff about good-looking Europeans in artsy-fartsy films I will probably never see.

• Matt Lauer and his wife Annette are NOT splitting up! You got that?

• The Duggar Family preemie baby Josie (their 19th child) is back in the hospital. (Nope, not touching that one.)

• Sex machine Lenny Kravitz is now a wallpaper designer. (But of course!)

• Journalist Laura Ling talks about being in a Pyongyang jail for months. (Yikes!)

That's all I have left in me for this issue. See you next week People!

Overall score: B-

Sorry but for some reason I was just not feeling this one. The Jennifer Hudson story was way too short by the way. Let's try next week shall we?

ox ox,

BFC